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Season Opener in Safi

The 2026 racing season got off to a strong start yesterday morning in Ħal Safi, as Agones hosted the opening round of the National Club Series. With podiums across multiple categories and four riders inside the elite top ten, it was a statement day for the team right from race one at the Duathlon & Criterium.

The day began with the duathlon, where Keith Galea delivered an impressive performance to claim 3rd place and bring home the team first podium of the season. Momentum carried straight into the criterium.

In the Masters 50+ category, David Cushing took the top step of the podium with a well-earned victory. The team also celebrated success in the Ladies category, where Ilsa won in her first race in Malta, finishing strongly to open her local racing account in style.

The elite criterium delivered another double podium, built on aggressive racing and disciplined teamwork. From the start, the team committed to riding on the front. Matching attacks, shutting down moves, and launching efforts of their own to keep the race selective. That early control paid off when the opportunity came to send John up the road with a decisive, hard-hitting counter attack. Only one rider could respond, the strong French competitor Antoine Magaud. The pair worked together in a powerful breakaway, with John ultimately finishing 2nd after an excellent ride.

Behind them, the race remained chaotic as attacks continued. Daniel dug deep to bridge across to a second group later in the race, covering moves and positioning himself for the finish. He capped off the team elite performance by sprinting to 3rd place, securing the last place on the podium.

Beyond the podiums, the team depth showed clearly in the results. With Pierre Borg finishing 7th and Carl Xerri taking 10th, the squad placed four riders in the top ten, rounding off a complete and convincing team performance.

A big congratulations also goes to the organisers for delivering a well-run event and a great opening to the National Club Series. With a start like this, the team leaves Ħal Safi proud of the effort and motivated for what comes next. Onwards and upwards.

Gran Fondo Città di Ragusa 2025: A Memorable Season Finale

We wrapped up our 2025 season in style at the Gran Fondo Città di Ragusa, delivering one of our strongest performances on Sicilian soil.

Our eight-rider squad faced a tough course and a highly competitive field, including more than 40 Maltese participants, but we rose to the challenge, achieving both individual and team success.

John Camilleri led the way with a brilliant ride, finishing 2nd in the Elite category and 5th overall, narrowly missing the general podium by just two seconds. Jacob Schembri and Daniel Briffa backed him up with 5th and 6th place finishes in the Elite category, giving us three riders in the top ten. Collectively, we secured 3rd in the Team Classification, our first team podium abroad.

On the women’s side, Lindsey Pirotta delivered a landmark result in her first road race abroad, taking 1st in her category.

The race started at a frantic pace, with Jacob and Daniel in the lead group early on. John bridged across to the strongest contenders and rode smartly throughout, timing his moves perfectly and staying in contention until the final sprint. His fifth-place finish highlighted our growing reputation on the international stage.
This result capped a remarkable season for us, marking our second Elite podium in Sicily this year, after a 3rd place in Avola and a 4th place finish in Etna—coming close to podiuming in all three races. Alongside a stellar debut local campaign, Ragusa also gave us our first-ever podium in the Team Classification abroad.

We are proud of how much we’ve grown as a squad this season, showing that a Maltese team can compete strongly against international competition.

With the 2025 season behind us, we’re focused on building momentum for 2026. Daniel, our rider and club secretary, reflected on the year: “We came to Ragusa to finish the season strong, and to bring home results as a team. We achieved both. This is only the beginning. Now we want to broaden our calendar next year to chase even more strong results.”

We can’t wait to see what next season holds.

Team Unveils new look

Our cycling team officially unveiled our new kit during a fun and relaxed dinner hosted by the team, marking the beginning of an exciting period ahead. Proudly sponsored by Bike it Up, with support from our valued partners, the kit features a bold blue and red design that reflects our team’s energy, identity, and ambition.

The new kits were officially presented by team leaders Steve Sciberras and Daniel Briffa, adding a special touch to the evening. Riders were thrilled with both the look and the premium quality of the new gear.

This new kit also marks a symbolic transition, as we move forward with our new branding colours, evolving from the iconic yellow kits that previously represented our former team, Birkirkara St. Joseph. It’s a fresh chapter built on strong roots.

We proudly represented our sponsors on Sunday’s ride and will wear the kit internationally for the first time at the Gran Fondo di Ragusa this September.

Fighting to the Finish at the Maltese Road Race National Championship Finale

The curtain closed on the Maltese Road Race National Championship yesterday at Fleur de Lys, and our team left it all out on the road in a final showdown. With Jacob sitting 2nd and John 3rd in the overall standings going into the race, we knew the odds were stacked against us for a last-minute grab at the championship title. But that didn’t stop our riders from giving everything in pursuit of that slim chance.

Our race plan was clear, keep things under control and aim for a bunch sprint. And that’s exactly what the team executed to perfection. From the gun, our riders worked tirelessly to shut down every attack, including a dangerous two-man breakaway that was reeled back in thanks to relentless work from our guys.

In the closing stages, Matthew and Daniel guided Jacob into prime position for the sprint and he powered across the line in 2nd place after an all-out effort, capping off a great season so far in his first year in our colours. Daniel still managed to finish in 6th, while John’s solid 7th-place finish on the day was enough to secure his top-three standing in the overall championship.

Unfortunately, our designated sprinter Pierre Borg was involved in a crash that dashed his hopes of contesting the finale, something which we all loved to see. We wish him and all those affected a full and speedy recovery. He still fought through to make it to the end of the race.

In the Masters categories, Malcolm Aber finished 6th in the 40+ category, while David Cushing extended his flawless streak with another commanding win in the 50+ race, securing the National Championship title in style.

With the road race series wrapped up, our focus now shifts to the final two rounds of the Time Trial Championship. Our goal remains the same, get our riders into the top three of the National Championship standings and finish our first season together as good as possible. Next up, a time trial back at Fleur de Lys this Sunday.

Team Triumph at Tough Ta’ Penellu Circuit

Yesterday’s race at the tough Ta’ Penellu circuit in Mellieħa was a real test, with steep climbs and a hard course, but our team rose to the challenge.

We had a great performance in the elite category, taking 2nd and 3rd place. Jacob and Aidan battled in a tight sprint for the win, with Jacob just missing out. John followed closely for 3rd after a long 3-man breakaway. Matthew and Daniel rode strongly in the second group to finish 4th and 7th, their teamwork is quickly becoming a highlight of the season. Pierre rounded off the top 10, giving us 4 riders in the top 7, and 5 in the top 10 overall. Carl Xerri and Chris Buhagiar also raced well in the elite field.

In the Masters 50+, David Cushing was unstoppable again, riding away solo early and taking a clear win. In the Masters 40+, Malcolm continued his steady comeback with another solid effort.

This was a strong team showing and gives us a great position heading into the final road race of the season at Fleur de Lys on 29th June.

2025 National Road Race Championships: San Martin Highlights

The 2025 National Road Race Championships opened with a testing course in San Martin, raced in the reverse direction of the traditional route and our team rose to the challenge.

Jacob led the results with a superb 2nd place in a three-man sprint. Just behind, John turned in one of the rides of the day, repeatedly dropped but never giving in, fighting back time after time to secure a well-earned 4th place.

Salvaging key points after being caught in an early race split, with support from Pierre and Daniel, Matthew timed his attack perfectly, breaking clear in the final lap to secure 7th place. Also riding in the Elite category were Chris Buhagiar and Carl Xerri, both of whom are steadily improving race by race in their first racing season.

In the Masters 50+ category, David stormed to 1st place, claiming top honors and adding to the team’s growing medal tally. We also had Malcolm competing in the Masters category, continuing to show consistency and strength in his first season back racing.

A huge thank you to all those who supported the team on the roadside.

We now shift our focus to the next challenge, the Mosta CC Road Race in Żebbuġ on May 25th, where we’ll look to carry this momentum forward.

National Time Trial Championships: Our Team’s Strong Start

The opening round of the National Time Trial Championships took place yesterday on the fast and familiar Coast Road, and our team kicked off the series in style with a strong all-around performance in the Elite category.

We came away with a significant points haul, placing four riders in the top seven. Daniel led the charge with a well-earned podium finish, followed closely by John and Jacob in 4th and 5th respectively. Matthew rounded out our top-seven presence with a solid 7th place, his best performance on a TT bike.

Keith, Chris, and Kevin also delivered strong rides, finishing 13th, 16th, and 18th, while James Geiger impressed in his debut ride for the team, placing 14th on a road bike.

A special mention goes to Simon Azzopardi, Carl Xerri, Mark Scicluna, and Carl Xuereb, who all hit personal bests on their road bikes, showing encouraging signs of progress early in the season. It was also great to see Matthew Dalli back in action and racing on the road once again.

In the Masters categories, Malcolm Aber secured 7th in the 40+ division. Meanwhile, in the 50+ race, we celebrated a 1-2 finish, with David Cushing taking the win and Kevin Muscat finishing just 12 seconds behind to complete the podium sweep.

With a strong start in the time trials behind us, we now turn our attention to the road, as the Road Race Championship kicks off this Sunday at San Martin.

Giro dell’Etna: A Challenging Race Recap

Last weekend, our team took part in the Giro dell’Etna, a challenging race with 121km of riding and 2,100 meters of climbing. Nearly 500 cyclists were at the start, and there was a great atmosphere before the race, everyone excited and ready to go.

We traveled on Saturday morning, driving from Pozzallo to Nicolosi. After settling in, we went for a short ride to check out the last hills of the race. Later, we picked up our race numbers and got everything ready for the next day.

The race itself was tough but beautiful. Jacob had a fantastic ride, just missing the podium with 4th place in the Elite category. John finished 6th, even though he had some bike problems, and Daniel came in 11th with a strong effort.

Big shoutout to Matthew, who was riding really well all day and was set to finish with Daniel, but had a flat tire just 7km from the finish. Carl Xerri did a great job in his first race, Andre showed a lot of determination in his longest ever ride, and Chris delivered another strong and steady ride.

It was a hard day, but the team showed great effort and teamwork. Now our focus turns to the upcoming National Championships.

Team’s Impressive Debut at Tour of Malta 2025

Our team made a strong and memorable debut at this year’s Tour of Malta, competing against tough opposition and leaving our mark on every stage. With ten riders taking to the start line, we consistently placed more than one rider in the Elite Class Top 10 throughout the weekend, a true showing to the depth and determination of our squad.

Special congratulations goes to Jacob, who delivered an outstanding performance by finishing 2nd in the final stage and securing 3rd place in the Local General Classification. He was closely followed by John, and Matthew, who wrapped up a strong weekend with a 5th place finish in the Local GC, making it three of our riders inside the Top 5.

Daniel Briffa showed great form early in the tour with an excellent time trial that placed him well in the standings. He carried strong momentum into Stage 2, but unfortunately, a tyre blowout ended his chances of fighting for the overall classification. Despite the setback, Daniel bounced back on Stage 3 with a determined ride that saw him secure another Top 10 stage finish whilst ensuring Matthew held onto 5th place.

We also want to highlight the incredible resilience of Pierre Borg, who battled through illness but still gave everything he had for the team across all stages.

In the Masters category, David Cushing delivered a brilliant performance, finishing 3rd locally and showing the class that defines his racing.

A special mention must also go to Chris Buhagiar, Carl Xuereb, Mark Scicluna, and Malcolm Aber, all of whom completed their first Tour of Malta with strong, positive performances. Each of them laid a solid foundation, gaining experience in what is the most demanding races on the local calendar.

Of course, none of this success would be possible without the incredible people who work tirelessly behind the scenes. To the everyone who support us throughout the year, this weekend’s achievements are yours as well.

Proud is an understatement. This is only the beginning!

Race Recap: First Place Finish and Strong Team Performance

We kicked off our local racing season with a strong performance in the first race of the year, held in Zebbug. The course was a 7.5km loop, raced over 10 laps for a total of 75km.

From the very start, our team showed we meant business. We set a fast pace in the first hour, making the race hard for everyone else. Daniel Briffa led from the front, helping us control the race and cause splits in the bunch at every technical corner. Matthew Portelli began testing the competition with a few early attacks.

The key moment came around 35km into the race. After a fast left-hand turn onto the back straight, a small gap opened. Daniel made the most of the moment and helped Jacob Schembri break away. Jacob rode solo all the way to the finish for an impressive win.

Behind him, John Camilleri and Matthew Portelli did a great job controlling the chase. In the final kilometre, team debutant Pierre Borg launched a strong attack and secured 2nd place. It was a dream 1-2 finish for us in our first ever race.

Matthew just missed the podium in a tight sprint for 3rd, with John finishing close behind. This meant we had four riders in the top 7.

Brandon Abela, Chris Buhagiar, and another debutant, Mark Scicluna, all put in solid rides to complete a strong team showing in the Elite Category.

We also had great results in the Masters categories. In the 50+ category, David Cushing won and Kevin Muscat finished 3rd, giving us a double podium. Malcolm Aber also raced well in his first outing in the 40+ group.

It was a great start to the season, and we’re excited for what’s to come! Our next race is the Tour of Malta, which will take place from the 25th to 27th of April. We’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going and putting in another strong team performance.